Bisons Focused on Playoff Spot as Regina Visits

WINNIPEG — The University of Manitoba Bison women’s hockey team returns to home ice Friday and Saturday after the holiday break.

The Bisons sit in fifth place and will host the Regina Cougars (4-9-1), while also looking for a playoff spot.

“This is a team (Regina) we have to take advantage of this weekend,” head coach Jon Rempel said Wednesday. “We’re on the outside looking in at a playoff spot and it’s super, super tight. This is the most parity we’ve had in this conference since I took over this job eight years ago.

The Bisons have 16 points and are two points back of fourth place Calgary (18), three points back of third place Alberta (19) and four points back of co-leaders Saskatchewan and Lethbridge (20).

Rempel admits the team has made a lot of mistakes in the first half of their season, costing them points.

“Part of that is being a young team, but these girls have had four months under the belt here and those reasons don’t hold water.”

Second-year forward Maggie Litchfield-Medd (8g, 3a) says the team will have to use speed to their advantage against Regina if they hope to clinch a coveted position in the playoffs.

“It’s definitely not where we wanted to be,” Litchfield-Medd said of the team’s battle for a spot this season.

“We’re all coming together pretty good, so the first half was kind of learning to play with one another. Over the Christmas tournament we really picked it up. We’re starting to play as we know we can play and that’s a good sign.”

The Bisons sit 3-3 at home, coming off of three consecutive wins at the Max Bell Arena.

Puck drop is 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Following this weekend, the Herd travels to Saskatchewan January 20-21 to play the Huskies.